Medical Membrane Market

Market Overview

The global medical membrane market size was valued at USD 3,286 million in 2021, which is envisioned to grow at a CAGR of 10.1% and reach USD 7,096 million during the forecast period. 

A medical membrane is a synthetic membrane used for separation purposes in the healthcare sector or laboratory. Medical membranes have been used in both large- and small-scale manufacturing processes since the middle of the twentieth century. Membrane technology plays a significant role in medical applications, particularly in various life-saving treatments. Drug delivery, tissue regeneration, artificial organs, and diagnostic devices like medical device coatings and bio-separations are some of their most critical medical applications. As a method of separation, the membrane is utilized to cover some of the enhanced applications of membrane technologies. These applications include concentration, fork, and purification, among others. Medical membranes have high separation precision and aid in processing highly pure substances.

Increased use of medical membranes in hemodialysis and pharmaceutical filtration is the primary factor driving the expansion of the global medical membrane market share. These membranes are commonly used in various medical applications, including venting & gas filtration, pre-filtration, sterile filtration, infusion therapy, and sample preparation. In an aqueous solution, the medical membrane provides superior flow and a rapid filtration rate to eliminate microorganisms, small particles, and fungi. Consequently, the market for medical membranes has expanded dramatically over the past few years due to increased demand from many industries, including healthcare, biotechnology, and pharmaceuticals. The need for high-purity selective separation and increased demand for artificial organs drive market expansion. In addition, medical membranes are commonly used in the healthcare industry to manufacture and preserve high-quality products.

Market Dynamics

Market Drivers

The Growing Popularity of Medical Membrane and Artificial Organs to Favor Market Growth

Drug delivery, diagnostic devices, tissue regeneration, bioseparation, and artificial organs are significant applications for medical membranes. In addition to their use as coatings for medical devices, membranes are frequently put to work, improving the delivery of medications, fostering tissue regeneration, and performing hemodialysis. The increasing use of medical membrane advancements in healthcare applications is a major force propelling the medical membrane market. Also, the increment in the geriatric population and the number of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) are increasing the demand for innovative treatment options, which is anticipated to expand the medical membrane market demand. In addition, the need for medical membranes is picking up steam due to the increased accessibility of advanced diagnostic facilities and an alarming rise in chronic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes. Additionally, increased investment in the healthcare segment is bolstering the demand for advanced infrastructure like medical membranes, speeding up the global medical membrane market growth.

The incidence of organ failure has alarmingly increased due to changes in diet and adopting a more sedentary lifestyle. Consequently, the demand for organ transplants increases. Compared to organ donors, the number of patients requiring transplantation is steadily increasing, resulting in a widening demand-supply gap for organ transplants. According to reports, the transplantation of organs is steadily declining as the supply-demand gap widens, and artificial organ replacement is replacing it. Chronic kidney disease is projected to impact approximately 15% of adults in the United States, as stated by the CKD (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). The U.S, Japan, Germany, Brazil, and Italy are the countries with the most significant demand for renal replacement therapy. This development fuels the need for medical membranes. In addition, there is an upsurging requirement for artificial versions of other organs, including the pancreas and the liver. Thus, the increased demand for artificial organs incorporating membranes significantly expands the global medical membranes market.

Market Restraints

Long In-Process Validation to Restrict Market Growth

Even though medical membranes are composed of medical-grade polymers, certification requires in-process validation. This operation takes between three and six months to complete. After the membrane or component membrane has been affirmed and certified, the membrane-using device must also be licensed. Besides the substantial demand for medical supplies, manufacturers face numerous regulatory obstacles due to the FDA's multilayered regulations. The lengthy validation and approval process delays the marketing of medical membranes and products, which is projected to restrain the market growth over the forecast period.

Global Medical Membrane Market Opportunities

Growing Demand in Emerging Economies to Spur Market Opportunities

In emerging economies, the need for ultra-pure water for pharmaceutical manufacturing and hemodialysis drives the demand for medical membranes. Developing economies like China, India, Brazil, and other developing nations present enormous opportunities for pharmaceutical and dialysis treatment companies. This is because the incidence of end-stage renal disease is rising rapidly in these countries, thereby increasing the demand for dialysis products and services. In addition, the rise in the geriatric population, the prevalence of diabetes and hypertension, and the awareness of kidney disorders offer lucrative opportunities for developing the global market for medical membranes.

Regional Analysis

The region-wise segmentation of the global medical membrane market includes North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA.

Europe And North America Will Dominate The Regional Market

Europe will command the market with the largest share during the forecast period and grow at a CAGR of 9.67%. The region's significant market share is attributable to the aging of the population and the rise in the number of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Moreover, the prevalence of chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension is another element that is anticipated to play a role in the region's accelerating development. Germany constituted the largest market in Europe for membrane water and wastewater treatment. This is a result of increased water treatment activities in northern Germany. Additionally, the protection of the environment and the health of humans are regarded as of the utmost importance in Germany, which significantly contributes to the development of the medical membrane market.

North America will hold a revenue share of USD 2,308 million while growing at a CAGR of 10.3%. The region's countries support pharmaceutical research and development, resulting in high healthcare expenditures. As a result of these activities, many organizations are motivated to work internationally in this sector. The U.S. is the central hub of the headquarters and research laboratories of many leading pharmaceutical corporations. As membrane chromatography is required for pharmaceutical research, demand for these filtration technologies is high in North America. North America's growing need for biopharmaceuticals and rising research and development expenditures by biopharmaceutical companies are responsible for the region's large market share.

The region's growth is attributable to the rise in population awareness, the provision of better medical facilities, the widespread adoption of innovative products, and the increase in the incidence of chronic kidney disease. Increased application of membrane filtration at different phases of drug production and development, ranging from production scale development to laboratory studies, such as drug production, virus disposal, laboratory-scale drug testing detection, sample preparation, protein separation, and cell culture, is anticipated to contribute to the development of the North American medical membrane market share.

Segmental Analysis

The global medical membrane market is classified based on material, technology, application, and region.

By Material Analysis

Segmentation based on material includes acrylics, polypropylene (PP), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polysulfone (PSU) & polyether sulfone (PESU), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and others.

The polysulfone (PSU) & polyether sulfone (PESU) segment is estimated to hold the largest share during the forecast period and grow at a CAGR of 9.52%. Polyether sulfone is a common polymer used during commercial membranes (PES) production. The microporous film's solid asymmetric membranes are composed of high-temperature polyether sulfone polymer. Polyether sulfone (PES) is a well-known polymeric material for the expansion of membranes for ultrafiltration (UF), microfiltration (MF), and gas separation due to its thermal, mechanical, and hydrolytic properties.

The polypropylene (PP) segment will hold the second-largest share. The pure polypropylene (PP) membrane is hydrophobic and hydrophobic. This material has broad chemical compatibility with aqueous samples and organic solvents, allowing for its application. PP has meager extractable amounts, making it an ideal solvent for chromatographic analysis applications. Polypropylene (PP) membranes are widely used for clarification filtration because they are physically and chemically stable, resistant to pressure, and used for depth filtration.

By Technology Analysis

Segmentation based on technology includes microfiltration, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, dialysis, gas filtration, and others.

The nanofiltration technology segment is anticipated to hold the largest market share during the forecast period and grow at a CAGR of 10.7%. Nanofiltration is expected to be the segment with the highest growth rate. This is because, with increased flow rates, nanofiltration can be conducted at lower operating pressures. Research into solvent-stable membranes has expanded the applicability of nanofiltration to new fields, such as pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals, thereby propelling the market of the nanofiltration segment. In addition, the increase in generic drug sales, the expansion of medical infrastructure, and the rise in demand for low-cost drugs are anticipated to fuel the development of the nanofiltration membrane industry.

The microfiltration segment will hold the second-largest share. A microfiltration membrane is a membrane that eliminates contaminants or suspended material from a fluid (liquid or gas) via pores of a specific size. Physical separation is the operating principle of the microfiltration membrane. Microfiltration membranes are composed of various polymers and are offered in multiple diameters and pore sizes. They are utilized for sterilization and contamination prevention in the pharmaceutical industry. Rising customer purchasing power for various premium products and the efficacy of microfiltration membrane technologies are the primary factors driving market expansion.

By Application Analysis

Segmentation based on application includes pharmaceutical filtration, IV infusion & sterile filtration, bio-artificial processes, drug delivery, hemodialysis, and others.

The pharmaceutical filtration segment is expected to hold the largest share during the forecast period and grow at a CAGR of 9.8%. Multiple drug production and development stages employ membrane filtration, ranging from production-scale development to laboratory research. Membrane filtration applications include large-scale drug production, virus elimination, drug screening, process and laboratory water purification, sample preparation, protein separation, and lab-scale cell culture. The high incidence rate of renal diseases, advancements in medical technology, development of the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries, and rising demand for high-purity materials and medicines all contribute to the segment's growth.

The IV infusion & sterile filtration segment will hold the second-largest share. Filtration adequately purifies the products and renders them consumable. Additionally, it helps optimize the economics of the process and prevent the loss of valuable products. This method is frequently used in processing protein solutions for medical drugs. The increasing incidence of diseases like cancer, neurological disorders, gastrointestinal diseases, severe orthopedic diseases, the rising geriatric population, and a rapidly evolving infusion therapy environment are the primary factors driving the growth of this market segment.

Recent Developments

• In 2022, Asahi Kasei acquired Bionova Scientific LLC.
• In 2022: Asahi Kasei launched a low-latency solution with Active Road Noise Cancellation (ARNC) technology as part of the license agreement with Silentium.
• In 2022, Asahi Kasei announced the next-generation concept car AKXY2ä.